Toy horse and accouterments therefor



NOV. 26, 1968 LOTT ET AL TOY HORSE AND ACCOUTERMENTS THEREFOR Filed June 2, 1965 INVENTORS. Mum/v Z. [arr 6L E/V/V H. 1077' ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent "ice 3,412,998 TOY HORSE AND ACCOUTERMENTS THEREFSR Milton L. Lott and Glenn H. Lott, both of 615 E. 8th St., Minneapolis, Kans. 67467 Filed June 2, 1965, Ser. No. 460,714 1 Claim. (Cl. 272-52) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toy animal of appreciable size and of a type to enable a child to mount and ride the animal, the toy being optionally provided with releasably secured riding accouterments in the nature of diverse saddle means and bridle devices to provide a degree of realism to the toy and to enhance the childs enjoyment in the use of the invention when at play by himself or among other children.

This invention relates to toy horses of the type on which children may play and the accessories which may be placed on such a horse to enhance the enjoyment of children.

Toy horses have been known to the prior art, including the stationary type as well as the rocking or spring supported type, and customarily have a saddle or other seat forming means on which a child may sit during play on the horse. One disadvantage found with the toy horses known to the prior art is that the saddle or other seat forming means is often fixedly secured to the horses back so that there can be no interchange of saddles to simulate different situations thus enhancing enjoyment thereof. In providing replaceable seat forming means for a toy horse, it has been found that children are not particularly conscientious in firmly securing a saddle or the like to the horses back.

It is accordingly a primary object of the instant invention to provide releasable seat forming means for toy horses which have securing devices thereon which facilitate the firm securement of a seat forming means to the back of a toy horse.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plurality of interchangeable seat forming means for a toy horse.

Another object of this invention is to provide interchangeable bridles and hackamores which may be used in conjunction with a toy horse.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a saddle configured to be placed on the back of a toy horse and having a depending stub beneath the saddle which may be engaged in a similarly shaped recess in the back of a toy horse.

Another more specific object of this invention is to provide a saddle blanket, of the type which may simulate an Indian riding blanket, having a stub dependingly secured to the underside thereof for engagement with a similarly shaped reces in the back of a toy horse.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bridle for a toy horse having resilient means on the throat straps thereof so that the bridle may be stretched for securement over the ears of a toy horse.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention will be in part apparent and in part more fully pointed out hereinafter and described in the accompanying drawing wherein there are shown preferred embodiments of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial view of a toy horse which may be utilized with the accouterments hereinafter more fully described;

FIGURE 2 is a pictorial view of a bridle which may be utilized with the toy horse of FIGURE 1;

3,412,998 Patented Nov. 26, 1968 FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of a Western type saddle embodying the principles of the instant invention;

FIGURE 4 is a pictorial view of a riding blanket embodying the principles of the instant invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a pictorial view of a hackamore which may be utilized with the toy horse of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like elements throughout the several views thereof, there is indicated generally at 10 a toy horse which may be of the stationary, rocking, or spring supported type and which may be made of any desirable artificial material such as wood, plastic, metal or the like and which may be appropriately colored. Horse 10 comprises the customary barrel-shaped body 12, a neck portion 14, a head 16 on which ear's 18, 20 are fixedly secured and which includes an open mouth 22. Horse 10 also includes the customary four legs 24 to which are attached hooves 26. Horse 10 also comprises the customary tail 28 and mane 30. Horse 10 also includes a load supporting back 32 forming an inwardly extending recess 34 which may be of any desired configuration, but which is preferably cylindrical.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, there is indicated generally at 36 a toy bridle which may be used in conjunction with horse 10 and which comprises a U-shaped strap indicated generally at 38 having a U-shaped strip of material 40 which may be of any desired type, a pair of elastic strips 42, 44 secured to U-shaped strap 40 having at least a longitudinal stretch characteristic and a pair of material strip 46, 48 secured to elastic strips 42, 44.

An appropriate head band 50 is fixedly secured to U- shaped strip 40 as by brads 52 or the like. A nose band 54 and a chin band 56 are secured to each of strips 46, 48 by any suitable means, such as brads 58. Connecting the free ends of strips 46, 48 is a bit simulating strip of material 60, which may be of any desired type. Also secured to the lower ends of strips 46, 48 is a U-shaped curb rein 62 which is of sufiicient length to be placed over head 16 of horse 10 so that a rider may conveniently grasp the same.

In placing bridle 36 on horse 10 it is necessary only to place bit 60 in the open :mouth 22 of horse 10, grasp U-shaped strip 40 and pull upwardly to stretch elastic strips 42, 44 so that U-shaped strip 40 may be placed in a depression 64 provided in mane 30 of horse 10. The looping of curve rein 62 over the horses head will complete the installation or bridle 36 so that a child may readily enjoy recreation on horse 10.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, there is indicated generally at 66 a Western type saddle, although an English, riding, or jockey type saddle may also be used. Saddle 66 is composed of a seat forming portion 68 including a cantle 70, and pommel 72 on which is secured a Western type saddle horn 74. Secured to saddle 66 and flanking each side thereof is a stirrup strap 76 on the lower end of which is secured a stirrup 78.

Also secured to each side of saddle 66 is a cinch indicated generally at 80 comprising a first strip of material 82 and a second strip of material 84 on the end of which is a fastener 86, a releasable fastening device of any conventional design for securement to strip 80 in any conventional manner. Dependingly secured to the underside of saddle 66 is a shank 88 illustrated as located forwardly of the center of saddle 66, but which may be placed anywhere on the underside thereof, and which is configured to slidingly [fit within recess 34 in the back of horse 10. Accordingly, shank or shaft 88 is preferably cylindrical.

In placing saddle 66 on horse 10, fastener 86 is loosened such that straps 82, 84 hang vertically from saddle 66.

Saddle 66 is then placed on back 32 of horse such that shank 88 is slidingly fitted within recess 34. Straps 82, 84 are next cinched together to complete the saddling of horse 10. It is thus seen that the cooperation of shank 88 and recess 34 precludes movement of saddle 66 in a horizontal direction from the back of horse 10. Furthermore, to prevent saddle 66 from pivoting about the axis of shank 88, a plurality of shanks and apertures may be provided. Likewise, cinch precludes vertically upward movement of saddle 66. It should be apparent that cinch 80 need not be tightened to an extent previously necessary since shaft 88 and recess 34 will cooperate with cinch 80 and hold saddle 66 from vertical movement, even when cinch 80 is not firmly secured to body 12 of horse 10.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, there is indicated generally at 90 a riding blanket comprised of a piece of material 92 which may be ornamentally decorated to simulate an Indian riding blanket. Secured to the underside of blanket 92 is a circumferential strap or cinch generally shown at 98 comprising a thin piece of material 100 sewn or glued to the underside of blanket 92 and carrying one portion 102 of a releasable fastening device generally indicated at 104 of any conventional type. Cinch 98 also includes a strip of material 106 which extends out from under blanket 92 and which carries a second portion 108 of fastening device 104. Secured to the underside of blanket 92 is :1 depending shaft 94 fixedly secured thereto along the plane or girth line of cinch 98.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, a hackamore indicated generally at 110 is shown comprised of a rope 112 having a loop 114 at one end thereof with the free end of rope 112 threaded in loop 114 to provide a large noose which may be placed in open mouth 22 of horse 10 with rope 112 providing a means of simulating the control of horse 10 by a child.

It is now seen that there is herein provided an improved toy horse and accessories having all the objects of the instant invention and many other including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that the foregoing is to be interpreted only as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In combination:

a toy animal constructed of artificial material and having a body provided with a longitudinal axis, said body further including a back and neck portion, said body having a recess formed therein opening into said back portion;

seat means comprising a saddle having an upper surface configured to receive and seat a child in riding position and a lower surface configured to complement and snugly fit on said back portion of said body;

said saddle having a shank projecting laterally from its said lower surface to be releasably received within said recess to provide a detachable connection between said saddle and said back portion and to prevent inadvertent movement of said saddle both transversely and in the direction of said longitudinal axis;

a cinching strap extending from each side of said saddle for engagement about said body; and

means releasably connecting said cinching straps to provide an auxiliary connection between said saddle and said body and to prevent said saddle from inadvertent displacement relative to said back portion to the extent that said shank becomes disengaged from its said recess.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 107,049 9/1870 Hitzelberger 272-525 1,183,477 5/1916 Mang 272--52.5 1,198,386 9/1916 Walter 27252 1,495,917 5/1924 Mangels 27252 X OTHER REFERENCES Playthings; October 1958, p. 85 relied on.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner. 

